News on the topic: human rights defenders
07.10.2015 Belarusian Embassy in Germany doesn't care for human rights
Activists of Amnesty International tried to pass to the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in Germany several hundred postcards with the demands to respect human rights. However, the embassy refused to accept them. The action is dated to the upcoming presidential elections.
07.10.2015 Investigation of case of graffiti artists extended until November
These days, a suspect in the “graffiti case” Yaraslau Ulyanenkau has received a notice from the Investigative Committee about the extension of the preliminary investigation.
05.10.2015 Human rights defenders on the death penalty: "Murder is not justice"
October 5, the traditional Week against the Death Penalty begins. Its events will be held under the slogan “Murder Is Not Justice”. The cruelty and inhumanness of this kind of punishment are symbolized by the robe of a death convict, sent to the relatives of the executives instead of their personal belongings.
05.10.2015 Report on results of monitoring of People's Assembly in Minsk on October 4
October 4, 2015 in Minsk the People's Assembly regarding the construction of a Russian military base in Belarus took place in Minsk.
05.10.2015 Schedule of Events during the Week Against the Death Penalty
Human Rights Week against the Death Penalty in Belarus this year is expanding its geography to the neighboring countries. From 5 to 10 October, a number of events will be held in Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan.
30.09.2015 Pivotal moment for democracy in Kyrgyzstan: defenders facing increasing pressure
Preliminary findings of a fact-finding mission on the conditions and vulnerabilities of human rights defenders and organisations.
29.09.2015 Lyudmila Alexeyeva awarded Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has awarded its annual Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize to veteran Russian activist Lyudmila Alekseyeva.
24.09.2015 International human rights activists call on OSCE to condemn persecution of colleagues in Belarus
On October 23, Warsaw hosted an event on the challenges and threats faced by human rights defenders in the OSCE region. The meeting was held within the framework of the OSCE Human Dimension Conference.
24.09.2015 Human Rights Lawyers at Risk
On 23 September, HRHN launched its report Human Rights Lawyers at Risk, detailing systematic violations against lawyers and revealing how governments have departed from their international obligations to provide special guarantees for members of the legal profession. HRHN presented and discussed the report at an event of the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw.
23.09.2015 Valiantsin Stefanovich: “We all know what elections in Belarus come to”
The European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs held yesterday a hearing on the situation in Belarus, which was attended by Gunnar Wiegand, European External Action Service (EEAS) Director for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia, Regional Cooperation and OSCE, and Miklós Haraszti, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus. Valiantsin Stefanovich, deputy chairman of the Human Rights Center "Viasna", highlighted in his speech a number of issues, focusing on the presidential election scheduled for October 11.
17.09.2015 Human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka to stand trial
Today, human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka was expected to appear at the Homieĺ customs office to face administrative charges.
16.09.2015 Ales Bialiatski: Ukraine showed that “unreal scenarios” can become real in no time
The human rights defender does not rule out that new big conflicts may emerge in post-Soviet countries, including Belarus.
14.09.2015 Ales Bialiatski takes part in Forum 2000 in Prague
In his speech at the opening of the 19th annual conference that is traditionally held with an emphasis on human rights, the head of the HRC “Viasna” criticized the present “pretended democracy” in Belarus.
11.09.2015 "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections": Authorities use selective approach to electoral campaign
September 11, a press-conference of the campaign "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections" on the occasion of completion of three important stages of organizational measures on preparation and holding of elections, which actually make up half of the election campaign, took place at the office of the HRC "Viasna".
11.09.2015 Supreme Court to consider Mikhail Zhabchuzhny's complaint on October 6
The consideration of the appeal will begin at 9.30 a.m. on October 6. This was reported by the founder of the cultural-educational institution "Platform Innovation” in a letter to the human rights activist Leanid Svetsik. On July 10, Mr. Zhamchuzhny was sentenced to six years in a high-security correctional facility. In his letters he emphasizes that the verdict is politcally motivated.
